Jorge Manuel Rebelo Fernandes (born 1 September 1976), known as Silas, is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a midfielder, currently manager of Liga Portugal 2 club União de Leiria.
He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 236 matches and 30 goals over nine seasons, representing in the competition União de Leiria, Marítimo and Belenenses.
He spent two years of his childhood in the academy of Sporting CP, where he received his nickname for his resemblance to Brazilian first-team player Paulo Silas.
During his time in the North African exclave, he was struck by a concrete block when walking past a construction site, and required 11 stitches in his head.
During the 2001–02 campaign he was managed by up-and-coming José Mourinho and, the following year, made his first appearance for the Portugal national team, in a 1–0 friendly win over Macedonia on 3 April 2003;[5][6] he later played against Paraguay and Bolivia.
[9][10] However, he endured a frustrating time in England, failing to settle in the country and establish himself in the squad;[11] during their doomed season he made a mere nine league appearances, totalling 14 overall.
[13] At the end of the season, having made 28 appearances with four goals, Silas decided to make his move permanent, joining on a free transfer as his contract at Wolverhampton had expired.
On 8 July 2015, shortly before his 39th birthday, Silas signed a six-month deal with Indian Super League club NorthEast United FC.
[20] On 11 November, a minute after coming on as a substitute for his compatriot Simão, he scored his first goal for the Guwahati-based team, the decisive one in a 2–1 victory away to Chennaiyin FC.